Zendy advances
ZENDY’S first advanced test proved a pick-your-own winner for Sarah Alderman at Pachesham, Surrey (30 July), reports Celia Cadwallader.
Sarah came to Britain from New Zealand to train eight years ago, first based with List One judge Mary Robins before running her own yard near Aylesbury and becoming a freelance rider.
Zendy, her own 13-year-old Dutch gelding, was imported last year.
“I took him out not long after I got him which made me realise how green we were as a combination, so I thought ‘get training’,” commented Sarah. “David Pincus has given me a lot of help and I’ve had a few lessons with Ulla Salzgeber. She understands how he ticks and gets quite a tune out of us.”
The combination scored plus71% at advanced medium recently, but Sarah explained: “I over did the warm-up today, so we didn’t have enough left in the tank and made a couple of mistakes. I enjoy the higher level tests and hope to take him out at PSG in a month or so.”
Olivia Wrennall and the 14.2hh Don Schufro x Floristan home-bred Donna Schuflo were the 71.72% winners of elementary 43, and the combination went on to make it a double with qualifier victory.
Olivia, 14, said: “We’ve scored 77% at this level, but I think that judge must have liked Flo. I thought her way of going was good today, very uphill and forward, although I made some small mistakes. Mistakes used to make me tense and I didn’t ride so well afterwards, but now I don’t let them affect me.”
Southerly Roberts’ successful show horse Tinx won a novice overall on 67.7%. It had been a busy week for the pair: competing in the New Forest Show inter-hunt relay a few days previously and the Royal International working hunters the day before.